Florida Senate Rules Committee voted 7 to 6 in favor of approving American Laws for American Courts bill which would prohibit Sharia and other foreign laws.   Click here to urge last committee, House Judiciary, to approve the bill during April 11th meeting.

The Florida Senate Rules Committee approved American Laws for American Courts legislation which would prohibit Sharia and other foreign laws during the committee's April 9, 2014 4:00 to 6:00 pm meeting.   The committee voted 8 to 6 in favor of SB 386 titled Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases:

Chair:
    Senator John Thrasher (R)                     Yes
Vice Chair:
    Senator Christopher L. Smith (D)           No

    Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R)            Absent. But voted Yes in other committee.
    Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R)    No
    Senator Bill Galvano (R)                           Yes
    Senator Andy Gardiner (R)                       Yes
    Senator Jack Latvala (R)                          Yes
    Senator Tom Lee (R)                                 Absent. But voted Yes in other committee.
    Senator Gwen Margolis (D)                      No
    Senator Bill Montford (D)                           No
    Senator Joe Negron (R)                            Yes
    Senator Garrett Richter (R)                       Yes
    Senator Jeremy Ring (D)                           No
    Senator David Simmons (R)                     Yes
    Senator Eleanor Sobel (D)                        No

To watch the video of the meeting click here.  The official committee vote history is posted here.

This legislation, commonly known as “American Laws for American Courts”, would prohibit Florida courts from considering certain provisions of foreign laws, including Islamic Sharia law, if such provisions are inconsistent with the Florida and United States of America Constitutions.  If Florida courts accept provisions of Islamic Sharia law or other foreign laws or legal codes which are inconsistent with American laws it will undermine public policies enacted by our representative form of government and change our value system.

Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases: Defines "foreign law, legal code, or system"; specifies public policy on application of foreign law, legal code, or system in proceedings relating to dissolution of marriage, support, time-sharing, UCCJEA, & UIFSA; provides that certain decisions rendered under such laws, codes, or systems are void; provides that certain contracts & contract provisions are void; provides for construction of waiver by natural person of person's fundamental liberties, rights, & privileges guaranteed by state or federal constitutions; provides that claims of forum non conveniens or related claims must be denied; provides that act doesn't require or authorize court to adjudicate, or prohibit any religious organization from adjudicating, ecclesiastical matters in violation of specified constitutional provisions or to conflict with any federal treaty or other international agreement to which U.S. is party to specified extent.  Full text of SB 386 and HB 903.

The last committee to consider this legislation will be the House Judiciary Committee. The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled HB 903 Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases to be considered during the Friday, April 11, 2014 9:00 am to 12:00 PM meeting.

Florida Family Association has prepared an email for you to send urging the members of the Florida House Judiciary Committee to vote for HB 903 - Application of Foreign Law in Certain Cases. 

To send your email, please click the following link, enter your name and email address then click the "Send Your Message" button. You may also edit the subject or message text if you wish. 

Please click here to send your email to the members of the Florida House Judiciary. 

For contact information for the Florida House Judiciary Committee please click here.